At Google I/O 2025, Google introduced MedGemma, a powerful suite of open-source AI models built on the Gemma 3 architecture, designed to advance multimodal medical understanding. The suite includes MedGemma 4B, a 4-billion parameter model for joint image-text tasks like interpreting chest X-rays or dermatology scans, and MedGemma 27B, a text-only model tuned for deep clinical reasoning and advanced medical text analysis. These models are accessible via Hugging Face and deployable through Google Cloud’s Vertex AI for production use. Optimized for tasks such as diagnostic support, triage, and medical report generation, MedGemma is also fine-tunable using methods like LoRA or…
Author: Rutali Thakur
Effective colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention hinges on high-level detection during colonoscopy. This requires thorough knowledge of subtle precancerous lesion appearances, optimal bowel preparation, use of high-definition scopes, and consistent tracking of adenoma detection rates. The whitepaper outlines updated recommendations, common detection barriers, and emerging tools and techniques to enhance visualization and improve lesion detection performance.
Despite heightened federal and state scrutiny, policy responses to private equity (PE) in healthcare remain limited. The authors argue that while PE ownership has undeniably surged across hospitals, physician practices, and outpatient services—often leading to higher prices and concerns about quality—there’s a gap between political outrage and concrete regulatory action. Authors Barak Richman and Richard Scheffler urge a shift from generalized blame to targeted policy grounded in a deeper understanding of PE’s organizational strategies. They call for evidence-based regulation that distinguishes harmful behaviors from the structure of ownership, warning that outrage alone won’t fix systemic vulnerabilities in healthcare markets.
Novel Device Shown to Dramatically Improve Scope Stability and Control for Gastroenterologists of All Skill Levels BURLINGAME, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Neptune Medical, a leader in medical device innovation, today announced positive new data from two studies presented at the prestigious Digestive Disease Week conference demonstrating that its Pathfinder Endoscope Overtube significantly improves endoscope control and completion of difficult upper and lower endoscopic procedures.
In a first-in-human Phase 1 trial, researchers from the University of Minnesota used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to modify tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, particularly metastatic colorectal cancer. The team knocked out a gene called CISH, which acts as an internal checkpoint limiting T cell effectiveness. Disabling this gene enhanced the immune cells’ ability to recognize and attack tumors. Twelve late-stage patients were treated with over 10 billion gene-edited T cells, with no major safety concerns. Several showed disease stabilization, and notably, one patient achieved a complete response, with cancer disappearing and remaining undetectable for over…
In this Perspective article, Drs. Chen and Murthy argue that the current sociopolitical climate in the U.S. poses serious threats to public health, physician autonomy, and core healthcare values. They emphasize that the challenges facing the nation go beyond partisan politics and touch on the well-being of patients and the integrity of the medical profession.
A new Nature Communications Medicine article dives into the expanding role of ctDNA-based liquid biopsies in colorectal cancer. From guiding targeted therapies in metastatic CRC to detecting minimal residual disease after surgery, liquid biopsy holds potential to redefine care pathways. But while the science is compelling, real-world clinical utility remains under scrutiny. FDA approvals have rolled in, yet long-term survival benefits and cost-effectiveness are still unproven for many applications. Early screening, too, shows promise—but with limitations in detecting precancerous lesions, it’s no replacement for colonoscopy just yet.
Highlights: UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty unexpectedly stepped down for “personal reasons,” prompting former CEO Stephen Hemsley to return as chief executive.The announcement follows months of turmoil, including the fatal December shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO and ongoing Justice Department investigations.UnitedHealth’s stock plunged 17%, and the company suspended its 2025 financial outlook due to higher-than-expected Medicare Advantage medical costs.
Roche is rolling out a new diagnostic test to help assess hidden liver fibrosis in patients showing signs of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD. The company said its 18-minute Elecsys PRO-C3 blood test, run on its cobas e instruments, is used alongside a formula that accounts for other clinical information—such as the patient’s age, diabetes status and platelet count. Its findings can help guide treatment and potentially provide access to upcoming therapies.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has released updated 2025 clinical guidelines for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—a condition impacting up to 28% of U.S. adults. These recommendations provide clarity on when to use endoscopy, the role of lifestyle changes, and which patients may benefit from emerging endoscopic interventions.